Palo Santo Restaurant & Rooftop in Atlanta receives a 66% on their recent health inspection

Palo Santo Restaurant & Rooftop, located at 955 West Marietta St NW in Atlanta, received a score of 66 points out of a possible 100 points during their 04/17/2026 inspection by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The violations noted by the inspector were:

Violation #1:
3-1C – food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
511-6-1.04(1) – safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple dented cans in the main kitchen dry storage area, 2 coconut cream and 4 coconut milk. CA: Advised PIC to dispose of the dented cans or have a specified dented can area.

Violation #2:
3-1D – required records: shellstock tags, parasite destruction
511-6-1.04(3)(k) – molluscan shellfish, maintaining identity (pf)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed no shellstock tags for mussels served raw, only tags from 2025. CA: Advised PIC to keep shellstock tags attached to the container until empty and to maintain on site until 90 days after receipt.

Violation #3:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(7)(a)1 – equipment, food-contact surfaces,& utensils (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed large buildup of mold like substance on interior bulk ice machine. CA: Advised PIC that the ice machine shall be clean to sight and touch.

Violation #4:
6-1D – time as a public health control: procedures and records
511-6-1.04(6)(i) – time as a public health control (tphc) (p, pf, c)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed no time as a public health control records, after discussing with PIC that it is performed on Lamb Chop, Birria, Carne Asada, Branzino, and Sea Bass. CA: Advised PIC to maintain time as a public health control records.

Violation #5:
6-2 – proper date marking and disposition
511-6-1.04(6)(h) – ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, disposition (p)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple items in reach in cooler and walk in cooler such as yogurt and prepared sauces stored past the 7 day expiration date. A food that requires datemarking shall be discarded if it: (i) Exceeds 7 days, not including the time that the product is frozen; P (ii) Is in a container or package that does not bear a date or day; P or (iii) Is inappropriately marked with a date or day that exceeds 7 days . PIC discarded items.

Violation #6:
6-2 – proper date marking and disposition
511-6-1.04(6)(g) – ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, date marking (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple items in the reach in cooler, such as sweet potatoes, cooked cauliflower, panna cotta, butter, cheese without datemarking. Also, observed cheese in the WIC without datemarking. PIC datemarked items

Violation #7:
9-2 – compliance with variance, specialized process and haccp plan
511-6-1.04(6)(j) – variance requirement (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed facility using ROP, Dry Aging, and Sous vide without the proper variance. CA: Instructed PIC to cease ROP until a variance can be obtained.

Violation #8:
10C – variance obtained for specialized processing methods
511-6-1.05(b) – documentation of proposed variance and justification (pf)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed the facility using sous vide, ROP, and Dry aging without a variance or the appropriate documentation from the health department. CA: Advised PIC that before a variance from a requirement of this Chapter is granted by the Department, the information that shall be provided by the person requesting the variance and retained in the Department’s file on the food service establishment includes: 1. A statement of the proposed variance of the Chapter requirement citing relevant rule and subsection numbers; Pf 2. An analysis of the rationale for how the potential public health hazards and nuisances addressed by the relevant rules and subsections will be alternatively addressed by the proposal; Pf and 3. A HACCP plan if required that includes the information specified under DPH Rule 511-6-1-.02 (6) as it is relevant to the variance requested.

Violation #9:
17C – physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) – good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed broken ceiling light above up-facing food containers in the dry stoage/warewashing area. CA: Advised PIC to repair glass in order to not contaminate food contact surfaces.

Additional remarks:
Sanibucket 200 ppm quat

3 comp sink 200 ppm quat

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